Check strap

ABSTRACT

A check strap assembly of the type having a guide rod carrying a loop of elongated flat strap material encompassing a loom picker stick and positioned for sliding movement adjacent each end thereof on the guide rod has, a first elongated flat strap portion extending between the ends maintaining constant spacing therebetween, and a second elongated flat strap portion integrally with one end of the first elongated flat strap portion extending laterally therefrom substantially at a right angle thereto for reception upon the guide rod for joining the ends of the loops.

1 United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert L. Springfield 2,884,961 5/1959 Plante et a1. 1.

106 Galphin Drive, Greenville, S.C. 29609 3,048,196 8/1962 Arcand 139/165 [211 App], No. 827,616 3,126,922 3/1964 Randlett et a1. 139/165 [22] Filed May 26,1969 3,228,429 1/1966 Messer 139/161 [45] Patented Jan. 5,1971 3,485,273 12/1969 Springfield 139/161 Primary Examiner-James Kee Chi [54] CHECK STRAP Attorney-Bailey and Dority 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 139/161 [51] lnt.Cl. ..D03d 49/40 ABSTRACT: A check strap assembly of the type having a [50] Field of Search 139/ 1618, guide rod carrying a loop of elongated flat strap materi l 161-165, 166-169 compassing a loom picker stick and positioned for sliding movement adjacent each end thereof on the guide rod has, a [56] References Cited first elongated flat strap portion extending between the ends UNITED STATES PATENTS maintaining constant spacing therebetween, and a second 1 255 635 2/1918 Prosser 139/165 elongated flat Strap Portion integrally with one end o e first 2 374 042 4/1945 Shivell..... 139/165 elongated flat strap portion extending laterally therefrom sub- 2.796.890 1957 plante et 139 stantiallyat a right angle thereto for reception upon the guide 2:855:004 10/1958 Shivell 139/165 rod fouommg the ends of the p I! a M I4 1; 2 25 PATENTEDJAN -5l97| I IHIIZZSVZQ INVENTOR. ROBERT L. SPRINGFIELD BY MW ATTORNEYS the check strap assembly illustrated in FIG. 1; and

1 check STRAP This invention relates to check straps, and more particularly to a unitary check strap of the type having a guide rod carrying a loop of elongated flat strap material wherea second elongated flat strap portion is carried integrally with one end of a first flat strap portion for joining'the ends of the loops so that the use of special fasteners may be avoided.

The check strap assembly illustrated herein is an improvement upon check straps of the typein U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,429 issued on Jan. 1 l, 1966, to Chester R. M esser. in check straps of this type a tie strap must be used to connect the free ends of the loop which are mounted upon the guide rod. It is necessary that the tie strap extend in a flat position directly between'the ends, otherwise,it will engage loom parts, such as the motor housing, resulting in damage to both'parts during weaving. It is also important that the loops of such checkstrap assemblies be replaceable without the necessity for temporarily removing the picker stick. This is accomplished in the above patent through the use of J-hooks at both ends of the loops for mounting the tie strap thereon. It has been necessary that two .l-hooks be carried at each of the free ends of the loop. Special fasteners of the variety illustratedin the above patent include the hook and shank portions which carry collars and setscrews.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a'loop portion for the check strap assembly possessing the advantages enumerated in connection with the check strap assembly of the above patent, while avoiding the use of special fasteners which have been found to be'inordinately expensive and troublesome. The invention contemplates doing this through the provision .of a unitary loop structure which is replaceable without removal of the picker stick upon the guide bar, and which avoids damage to associated loom parts.

Accordingly,'an important object. of this invention is the provision of a check strap of the type employing a guide rod wherein the loop may be installed without removing the picker I stick and the means for connecting the ends joined to the ends without the use of special fasteners.

Another important objectof the invention isjthe provision of a loop for a check strap assembly of the type described possessing improved wear characteristics, and which avoids damage to adjacent loom parts. 1

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readilyunderstood from a reading of-the following specification and by reference to the ac companying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, with parts in section, illustrating a check strap assembly constructed in accordance with the l present invention posrtio ned upon a loom;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view further illustrating the loop of sectional elevation takenon the line stant spacing therebetween during weaving againsttheaction j of the picker stick tending to separate the ends. A second elongated flat strapportion' B,-integral with one end of the first elongated flat strap portion, extends 'laterallytherefrom substantially at a right angle thereto for reception upon the guide rod joining the ends of the-loops. Thus, the check strapmaybe installedon the loom without removing the picker stick and the means for connecting said'ends joined to said ends without first elongated flat strap portion A is an integral extension of the outer ply at substantially a right angle thereto, and the second elongated flat strap portion B is integral with the free end of the first elongated flat strap portion. The angles are formed in said outer ply by the application of heat and pressure to an impregnated leather strap.

The loop of the check strap assembly illustrated is broadly designated at 10, and includes an outer ply l1 and an inner ply stick 20 on a checking stroke. The loop is retained upon the guide rod as by washer portions 21 which are positioned by collars 22 which, in turn, are fixed to the guide rod 15 as by setscrews 23.

A is best seen in FIG. 3, the built-up end portions of the loop 10 include a short reinforcing member 24 and is secured by rivets 25, which include washers 25a on their inner ends. The first elongated flat strap portion A has a second elongated flat strap portion B integral with one end thereof as is best illustrated in FIG. 3. These portions are joined integrally by a bend illustrated at 26. It will be observed that the second flat strap portion Bis not otherwise connected to the adjacent portion of the loop, but simply has an opening 27 corresponding with the opening 28, illustrated at the other end of the loop for reception upon the guide rod 15. Preferably, the tie portion or first elongated flatstrap portion A is integral with the portion C of the flat strap material forming the outer ply 11. The first elongated flat strap portion A is connected integrally by the 90 bend 29 to the portion C. if the elongated flat strap por tions B and C are integrally joined as by the 90 bends 26 and 29, it will be unnecessary to use any special fasteners on either end of the loop.

Preferably, all of theelements which comprise the loop as described above, are made from leather except, of course, for the rivets 25, washers25a associated therewith, and the portions 24 which may be of'suitable'plastic.

The leather is preferably treated as described inamy-copending application entitled loom check strap, Ser. No. 739,059, filed Jun. 21, 1968.

The leather is immersed in a liquid polymeric composition which comprises a resin preferably of the 'thermosetting .variety. The resin is applied to the tanned leather while in a natural or raw state so that'the-interstices between the leather fibers are sufficiently'opento permit:substantial-penetration of theresininto the leather. Preferably, using the liquid polymericcomposition describedbelow, the 'leatherrema'ins immersed for about 45 minutes. While'immersiomas described-above is preferable, and is carried out preferably tothe extent that'the resin penetrates uniformly-throughout'the leather, itmay be 'possibleto apply the resin composition by brushing'or spraying, or by any other suitable means beforeoraftercornprescludes a pigmentedpolyesterhaving a wet weightzof-43A2 out of of which .42 is zinc .octolate and8 percent is ethyl acetate. The composition also includes a-polyisocyanate 7:56 parts which is 75 percent ethyl acetate. An amine in the-form 'of ethyl diethaolmainein the amount of ;.24'parts is included.

An ester solvent in the formof ethyl acetate isadded'in an amount of 48.78 parts to make uplOO. While a resin of the polyurethane'type is thought to be preferable, it'may be possible that another type of resin, such as an .epoxyresinxwith curing agent maybe used.

Preferably, the loop is totally immersed. The polyester is cured by the polyisocyanate curing agent, preferably by applying heat, and it is preferred that pressure accompanies the application of heat. The heat and pressure acting as described below, fonn smooth side surfaces on the leather D.

The impregnated leather members are placed upon a flat platen of a press (not shown). Preferably, the press is heated to about 175 F., and a pressure of about 3,500 psi. is applied by the press for about 45 to 90 seconds. The leather is then cut to strips of the desired dimensions. The 90 bends are then formed in the leather while it is still hot or preheated by placing the strap portion associated in the press at about l75 F. for another application of heat and pressure, about 200 p.s.i. for about 2 to 5 seconds.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

lclaim:

1. For use in a check strap assembly of the type having a guide rod carrying a loop of elongated flat strap material, encompassing a loom picker stick, for sliding movement adjacent each end thereof on said guide rod, the improvement including, means for connecting said ends of said loop comprising, a first elongated flat strap portion extending between said ends maintaining constant spacing therebetween during weaving against the action of the picker stick tending to separate the ends, a second elongated flat strap portion integral with one end of the first elongated flat strap portion and extending laterally therefrom substantially at a right angle thereto for reception upon the guide rod joining said ends of said loops, whereby the check strap assembly may be installed on the loom without removing the picker stick and the means for connecting said ends joined to said ends avoiding the use of special fasteners.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said first elongated flat strap portion is an integral extension of a portion of said loop at a right angle thereto.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein the loop has a plurality of plies, an outer ply being of leather, said first elongated fiat strap portion being an integral extension of said outer ply, and said second elongated flat strap portion being integral with the free end of said first elongated flat strap portion, said angles being formed in said outer ply by the application of heat and pressure to an impregnated leather strap. 

1. For use in a check strap assembly of the type having a guide rod carrying a loop of elongated flat strap material, encompassing a loom picker stick, for sliding movement adjacent each end thereof on said guide rod, the improvement including, means for connecting said ends of said loop comprising, a first elongated flat strap portion extending between said ends maintaining constant spacing therebetween during weaving against the action of the picker stick tending to separate the ends, a second elongated flat strap portion integral with one end of the first elongated flat strap portion and extending laterally therefrom substantially at a right angle thereto for reception upon the guide rod joining said ends of said loops, whereby the check strap assembly may be installed on the loom without removing the picker stick and the means for connecting said ends joined tO said ends avoiding the use of special fasteners.
 2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said first elongated flat strap portion is an integral extension of a portion of said loop at a right angle thereto.
 3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein the loop has a plurality of plies, an outer ply being of leather, said first elongated flat strap portion being an integral extension of said outer ply, and said second elongated flat strap portion being integral with the free end of said first elongated flat strap portion, said angles being formed in said outer ply by the application of heat and pressure to an impregnated leather strap. 